Free bus fares, a group bicycle commute and the Third Annual Dump the Pump Challenge are among the activities being held this Thursday, June 16, to help mark National Dump the Pump Day.
Chatham Area Transit is offering free rides on all of its fixed-route buses for the entire day. Also on Thursday, cyclists can join a group bicycle commute that leaves Habersham Village Shopping Center at 7:40 a.m., and ends at Savannah City Hall. Led by trained volunteers from the Savannah Bicycle Campaign, this is a great opportunity for those who live in midtown and work downtown to give bicycle commuting a shot.
The end of the Bicycle Commute will also serve as the finish line for the much-anticipated Dump the Pump Challenge. The Challenge pits car vs. bus vs. bike in a race from the 12 Oaks Shopping Center near DeRenne and Abercorn to City Hall.
Savannah Bicycle Campaign Director Frank McIntosh, the bicycle competitor, will attempt to defend the title he has won for the past two years. He will be up against Georgia Legal Services Managing Attorney Bill Broker, a longtime bus commuter; and City of Savannah Mobility and Parking Director Sean Brandon, who will drive his car. The race should be exciting, as just a few minutes have separated the competitors in past years.
The rules are these: The race begins at 8 a.m. when CAT’s regular Abercorn 14 bus arrives at the 12 Oaks bus stop (where the Publix is located). The bus continues on its regular route, making normal stops. The car must follow all traffic laws, and will head north on Abercorn and Drayton streets, parking in the Whitaker Street Garage. The cyclist must also follow traffic laws, but can park his bike at the City Hall bicycle rack. Winner is the first to step across the finish line next to City Hall, which should occur between 8:20 and 8:30 a.m.
National Dump the Pump Day is an annual event aimed at raising awareness about the benefits of alternative modes of transportation, and to encourage people to leave their car at home for one day and commute to work via public transportation, carpool, bicycle, scooter, skateboard or foot. With near-record-high gas prices, it’s a particularly good time to Dump the Pump.
And with the addition of new bicycle lanes and more than 50 bicycle racks over the past two years, it’s now easier than ever to bike in Savannah. You can find a map of bicycle racks, as well as public garages, by visiting the City’s Web site at the Mobility and Parking Services link. Find the CAT bus schedule at catchacat.org. And learn about bicycle commuting right here at bicyclecampaign.org.
